Disney Theatrical Prods. Hits Theatrical Licensee Milestone

Variety reports the news that Disney Theatrical Prods. hit a major theatrical licensee milestone, the company has now scored 20,000 licensees.

With its partner Music Theater International, which licenses Disney's stage shows to schools and theaters around the globe, licensed productions of their very popular stage shows have now totaled approximately 100,000 performances.

The company licenses out according to the Variety article, "three types of production: full-scale musicals, including school and Broadway editions of "Beauty and the Beast" and "Aida"; hourlong abridgements of popular shows designed for middle schools; and half-hour abridgements for elementary schools."

Disney Theatrical Productions, a division of Disney Theatrical Group, operates under the direction of Thomas Schumacher and is a successful commercial theater enterprise, reaching a global annual audience of more than 10 million. Disney Theatrical Productions produces and licenses Broadway musicals around the world, including "The Lion King," "Beauty and the Beast," Elton John and Tim Rice's "Aida," "Tarzan," "Mary Poppins," a co-production by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, and "The Little Mermaid."